Manhattan University Athletics

Riverdale, NY - A jumper by senior Kayla Grimme (Altoona, PA / Altoona Area) that would have sent Manhattan and Siena into double-overtime at Draddy Gymnasium Thursday night was ruled too late by officials, giving the Saints a 56-54 OT win against the Jaspers. The loss brings Manhattan to 10-16 overall and 7-8 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Siena improves to 14-12 on the season and 9-6 in the league.
 
Senior guard Amani Tatum (Cambria Heights, NY / James Madison) put in 25 points for the Jaspers, including a half court three at the end of the first half that put Manhattan within two of the Saints at 26-24 going into the locker room. Her total for the night is just three less than her career-high of 28 earned earlier this season against Saint Peter's. Tatum's four assists for the game give her 331 for her Manhattan career, good for eighth on the all-time assist list. 

In another career-high, Grimme pulled down 20 rebounds, besting her previous high of 15, which she has earned twice during her time at Manhattan, most recently against Iona on January 18 at Draddy. She now has 919 rebounds for her career, 67 away from second on the all-time list. Grimme also scored 11 points in Thursday's game, earning her ninth double-double of the season. 
 
Thursday's game was the fourth for the Jaspers in just one week, and the second consecutive overtime game Manhattan has played. On Monday, the Jaspers lost in OT to Monmouth 63-59 in West Long Branch, NJ.

Against Siena, Manhattan got out to a slow start, going 4-14 from the floor and scoring just nine points in the first 10 minutes. At the end of the first, the Jaspers trailed the Saints 15-9. In the second, Manhattan got back on track, shooting more than 42 percent from the floor, including 3-7 from three. The Jaspers outscored the Saints 15-11 in the quarter, including Tatum's half-court gem. 

After scoring just five points in the third quarter, the Jaspers found themselves down seven going into the final 10 minutes of play. A three by Siena's Kollyns Scarbrough 40 seconds into the fourth put the Saints up by 10, their largest lead of the game. But they didn't hold it for long. The Jaspers chipped away at the Saints over the next six minutes, going on a 16-7 run in which Tatum contributed seven points, including a three to cut Siena's lead to one. After Scarbrough hit a free throw to bump the Saints' lead back to two, Tatum was sent to the line and hit both, tying the game for the third time of the night and forcing OT.

Grimme opened scoring in extra time with a jumper that gave Manhattan its first lead. However, the Jaspers sent Scarbrough to the line six times in a minute and a half, where the Saints' floor leader hit them all, putting Siena up 53-49. 

Sophomore KellyAnne O'Reilly (Montville Township, NJ / Montville) then sank a three under the two minute mark to bring the Jaspers back within one point. Tatum then sank two foul shots, with the lead once again swinging back to Manhattan.

With 22 seconds left to play, Siena's Maddie Sims hit a layup to take back the one-point lead. A Tatum turnover on the other end made it necessary for Manhattan to foul to regain possession. Siena's Joella Gibson hit 1-2, giving the Jaspers the ball back and the chance to tie, but Grimme's jumper on the inbound play was just too little too late for Manhattan. 

Up Next:
The Jaspers will travel to Iona on Saturday, February 17 to take on the Gaels at 1 p.m.